Community Engaged Physical Therapy
at OSU–Cascades
Community engagement is central to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Oregon State University–Cascades. Students partner with local organizations to apply classroom learning into real-world settings while supporting the health and well being of Central Oregon communities.
These hands on experiences help students build clinical skills, professional confidence, and a strong understanding of population health. By working with communities—not just within them—students learn how physical therapy contributes to movement, wellness, and prevention across the lifespan.
What Is Community Engaged Physical Therapy?
Community engaged physical therapy takes many forms. At OSU–Cascades, it is grounded in long term, mutually beneficial partnerships between students and community organizations. Engagement is embedded throughout the curriculum, moving beyond one time service projects to sustained collaborations that create meaningful outcomes for everyone involved.
This approach benefits:
- Students, who develop essential clinical and professional skills early, including building therapeutic relationships, adapting care to real world settings, and addressing social determinants of health.
- Community partners, who receive consistent, mission aligned support that can strengthen and expand their programs.
- Community participants, who benefit from evidence informed programs focused on prevention, wellness, and functional outcomes.
Curriculum Overview and Timeline
DPT students complete two Community Engaged Physical Therapy courses during the program:
- PT 784: Community Engaged Physical Therapy I
Summer, Year 1 - PT 785: Community Engaged Physical Therapy II
One term (*fall, winter, or spring), Year 2
| Year | Community Engaged PT Course Series | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer |
| Year 1 | X | X | X | PT 785 Community Engaged PT I |
| Year 2 | PT 785 Community Engaged PT II* | PT 785 Community Engaged PT II* | PT 785 Community Engaged PT II* | X |
PT 784: Community Engaged Physical Therapy I
This course introduces the principles of community engagement as they relate to physical therapy practice, research, and leadership. Students explore a partnership based model of care that emphasizes collaboration, relationship building, and shared problem solving. The course provides a foundation for engaging respectfully and effectively with communities.
PT 785: Community Engaged Physical Therapy II
In this course, students apply community engagement principles through active involvement in a project with a local partner organization. Students and community partners exchange knowledge and resources in ways that support community identified goals. Projects may focus on health promotion, injury prevention, wellness, or addressing broader societal needs, while preparing students for civic minded and patient centered practice.
Current Community Partnerships
Oregon Adaptive Sports (OAS)
OAS is a local nonprofit with a national reputation for providing high quality outdoor recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Recognizing the physical demands placed on OAS instructors and volunteers, OSU–Cascades DPT students partnered with OAS to design and deliver an injury prevention exercise program. This collaboration supports the health and sustainability of the instructors who are vital to the organization’s mission.
Central Oregon Otago Program (COOP)
The COOP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals lead healthier, more independent lives. Through a partnership with OSU–Cascades DPT, students help expand access to the Otago Exercise Program across Central Oregon. Otago is an evidence based program shown to reduce fall risk in older adults by up to 35%. Students receive specialized training and work directly with older adults in the community, gaining skills they can carry into future clinical practice.